Bulgaria rejects
Russian attempt
to raise gas price

Reuters News Service

Updated Jan. 9, 2006 12:01 a.m. ET

SOFIA, Bulgaria -- Bulgaria is rejecting a Russian attempt to raise the price it charges for its gas, Bulgarian officials said on Friday, days after Russia and Ukraine ended a price dispute that had disrupted gas supplies to Europe.

OAO Gazprom of Russia supplies former Soviet satellite Bulgaria with a large part of its gas at lower-than-market prices for acting as the main conduit to its neighbors Turkey, Greece and Macedonia.